Tuesday, October 21, 2014

October's 10 Questions

4 are Kerrits KP Sit Tight and Warm fleece lined that I use in Dec/Jan when the temp is sub 45.

1 Ariat demins that are still too small for me, so unworn.

1 FITS Beka in tan that I show in.

8 SmartPak Pipers, all of which are KP except the plaid which are fullseat.

2. How many horses have you ridden?
~20

I probably rode around 9 different horses as a kid, which was divided between vacation trail ride horses and random chances at a ride. I took a few months of lessons when I lived in Cali around my mid-twenties and rode probably 3 different horses. From there I can solidly count (not including any horses I tried at while shopping - which wasn't many) 8, owning 5 of those.

3. How many trainers have you had?

Mrs. Pennington of Pennington Farms. As a kid I took 16 weeks of lessons total, once a week. She and her staff of teens taught me everything I know about basic horse parts and tack. What I learned there, I muscle memory and apply as an adult. It's amazing that that information sticks when the rest of my memory is crap ;)

Claire of a barn in the silicon valley that I will never remember the name of (see memory is crap). I was in my mid-twenties with three kids already and my trainer was around 18/19 yrs old with a total alternative look, complete with piercings everywhere. And she was awesome and I was sad to move away.

Lorraine? was a dressage instructor who came to my house for approximately monthly lessons for almost a year when I got my first horse at age 28.

Jessica is a top dressage rider of the slightly famous Welsh Cob, North Forks Cardi who competes at the CDI GP level. She was my trainer for monthly clinics at my old barn with Brie, lease horse and then with Smudge, the mare I owned. We worked together for about a year in dressage.

Jane & me, 2013

I started working with dressage trainer, Harriet, when I moved barns four years ago so I could get weekly lessons instead of only monthly. She's kind and clear and I super love her. While I don't take dressage lessons anymore, she's also my barn manager and the main trainer at the barn, so we have a great relationship anyway.

Jane is my current jump and everything else trainer. I started with her 3.5 years ago when I had issues with my mare and took lunge lessons with her. She comes to my barn twice a week. Eventually I switched horses to Sam because I decided I wanted to start jumping and needed a horse I could learn on. For 2 full years, I took twice a week lessons every week with Jane. This last year has been more miss then hit on even weekly lessons due to finances, but Jane still yells at me from across the arena when I need it. ;) She's my biggest cheerleader, has tons of experience both as a rider and working with other top trainers and is just super awesome.

4. How many barns have you ridden at?

Sammykins

Five. Boarded at 3 of them.

5. What is the name of the horse you consider yourself to have the greatest bond with?

That's easy. Sam.

6. What is your favorite show name you've ever encountered?

I don't encounter many names really. I like plays on words or something witty. I've only shown two horses and have used both their registered names - because I'm not cool enough to come up with my own. But Sam's old owner showed him as Teacher's Pet because she is a teacher. That's pretty cute.

7. What do you consider your greatest weakness or flaw in riding?

Laziness. It's too easy for me to just stop trotting because my legs hurt, or I'm hot, or I'm out of breath. And it doesn't help that my horse is all, "We should stop." And I'm all, "Good idea."

8. What do you consider to be your greatest strength?

Brie, my lease

Surprisingly contrary to being lazy, is my competitive edge. I want to be the best student and win shows. So I am very picky about what I work on and I don't drill to death, just get it right and move on. I think my horse appreciates that too. I'm a quick learner and pretty sporty, so I don't usually make the same mistakes for very long.

9. Have you ever leased a horse?

Yes. Brie, a welsh cob mare that I rode 3x/wk. I leased her for 2.5 months. Then I had to buy again. :) I'm definitely an owner.